Colorectal cancer in young patients under 40 years of age. Comparison with old patients in a well defined Jordanian population.

Objective: To determine the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in young Jordanians and to compare the clinical and pathological characteristics with those in older patients and with those in high risk populations.

Methods: Clinical and pathological data of all the patients with CRC managed at Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Jordan over a 10 year period (January 1990 through December 1999) were recorded. The patients were divided according to age into group one (those <40 years) and group 2 (> 40 years).